Who SHOULD Win at the 2026 Grammys: Bad Bunny vs. Bieber vs. Kendrick & More!

Who SHOULD Win at the 2026 Grammys: Bad Bunny vs. Bieber vs. Kendrick & More!

Author: The New York Times January 29, 2026 Duration: 50:43
This year's awards, airing Sunday, propose a few different ideas about the state of contemporary pop. Here’s who we prefer among the major nominees.

Hosted by The New York Times pop music critic Jon Caramanica, Popcast digs into the conversations that define what we listen to now. This isn't just a rundown of new releases; it's a thoughtful dissection of the forces shaping popular music, from underground shifts to mainstream explosions. Each episode feels like a lively, insightful debate you'd have with the most knowledgeable friend in the room, blending sharp criticism with a genuine curiosity about where sound and culture collide. You'll hear interviews with artists, producers, and industry thinkers that go beyond the usual promotional talk, alongside regular discussions that unpack trends, controversies, and the occasional forgotten gem. The Popcast provides context and argument, offering a deeper understanding of why a song or artist resonates-or fails to-at a particular moment in time. It’s essential listening for anyone who wants to move past the playlist and into the ideas driving the music. As a production of The New York Times, this podcast brings the same level of rigor and reporting you'd expect from their journalism, applied directly to the ever-evolving world of pop.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Popcast
Podcast Episodes
Remembering Sly Stone & Brian Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:48
A wide-ranging conversation about two pop visionaries whose lives, careers and legacies only grew more complex over time.
What It's Like at the Diddy Trial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:45
Now entering its third week, the complex case can only be experienced directly by those at the courthouse each day. Our reporters break it down.
‘Sinners,’ the Blues and Fighting for Artistic Control [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:59
Unpacking the Ryan Coogler movie “Sinners,” starring Michael B. Jordan, and its relationship to music, genre and gatekeeping, with guests Wesley Morris, Reggie Ugwu and James Thomas.